Jan
07-06-2006, 07:01 AM
Hello,
I just want to take the chance to make a short introduction about myself and to report a strange story about the litter of my Santa-Cruz-Garter Snake (T. atratus atratus) only two days ago.
So let’s begin.
I live in Berlin, Germany (that country in Europe wich organizes the Fifa WM 2006 – but I’m no football-fan in any way).
Some years ago I started keeping Garter Snakes and until now I have about 40 beautiful Garter and Ribbon Snakes. My possibilities to keep my snakes are a little limited, because I can only keep them inside my flat. Some other people that I know are also having them in outside cages – this would be the next step if I ever won a lottery ;-).
My favourite Garter Snakes are the Blacknecked Garter Snake (T. cyrtopsis), the Coast Garter Snake (T. elegans terrestris) and due to her beauty the Oregon Red-Spotted Garter Snakes (T. sirtalis concinnus) – but there is no one that I do not like (even though T. rufipunctatus as an example will never be a favourite of mine).
My little strange story about Lil’ Cruz (that’s the name of the Santa-Cruz Garter Snake I will write about):
It was 101 days ago that Lil’ Cruz was visited the first time by a pretty male of the same subspecies. The last days before I was very sure that she should get her litter every moment. On the 4th of July the waiting was over, because at that moment I came home she was giving birth to her first babysnake. I was very happy and I planned to stay in proximity to have a look how long it would take and so on.
But to my surprise she stopped giving birth after that one and only babysnake. The little snake was already shedding correctly for the first time and I waited and waited… So, I went away form the terrarium and hoped that she would resume giving birth undisturbed. Deep in the night I caught Lil’ Cruz from her terrarium and searched for new babysnakes or eggs. What I found was nothing new! I began to get a little nervous.
The next day I called my veterinary to ask him what to do. He told me that I shouldn’t wait longer than two days after starting of birth to get to him with the female. As I drove home I was very unsure what would expect me.
But Lil’ Cruz was having everything under control – 8 new babysnakes were crawling in her terrarium and you all can surely image how happy I felt. I caught the new babysnakes from the terrarium and now I’ve bin wondering everytime I take a look at them how big and burly they are from day one.
Does that sounds strange or could it happen not so seldom as I’d thought?
Best regards
Jan.
PS: Please don’t be so strict with my English, I’m still learning how to find the right words.
I just want to take the chance to make a short introduction about myself and to report a strange story about the litter of my Santa-Cruz-Garter Snake (T. atratus atratus) only two days ago.
So let’s begin.
I live in Berlin, Germany (that country in Europe wich organizes the Fifa WM 2006 – but I’m no football-fan in any way).
Some years ago I started keeping Garter Snakes and until now I have about 40 beautiful Garter and Ribbon Snakes. My possibilities to keep my snakes are a little limited, because I can only keep them inside my flat. Some other people that I know are also having them in outside cages – this would be the next step if I ever won a lottery ;-).
My favourite Garter Snakes are the Blacknecked Garter Snake (T. cyrtopsis), the Coast Garter Snake (T. elegans terrestris) and due to her beauty the Oregon Red-Spotted Garter Snakes (T. sirtalis concinnus) – but there is no one that I do not like (even though T. rufipunctatus as an example will never be a favourite of mine).
My little strange story about Lil’ Cruz (that’s the name of the Santa-Cruz Garter Snake I will write about):
It was 101 days ago that Lil’ Cruz was visited the first time by a pretty male of the same subspecies. The last days before I was very sure that she should get her litter every moment. On the 4th of July the waiting was over, because at that moment I came home she was giving birth to her first babysnake. I was very happy and I planned to stay in proximity to have a look how long it would take and so on.
But to my surprise she stopped giving birth after that one and only babysnake. The little snake was already shedding correctly for the first time and I waited and waited… So, I went away form the terrarium and hoped that she would resume giving birth undisturbed. Deep in the night I caught Lil’ Cruz from her terrarium and searched for new babysnakes or eggs. What I found was nothing new! I began to get a little nervous.
The next day I called my veterinary to ask him what to do. He told me that I shouldn’t wait longer than two days after starting of birth to get to him with the female. As I drove home I was very unsure what would expect me.
But Lil’ Cruz was having everything under control – 8 new babysnakes were crawling in her terrarium and you all can surely image how happy I felt. I caught the new babysnakes from the terrarium and now I’ve bin wondering everytime I take a look at them how big and burly they are from day one.
Does that sounds strange or could it happen not so seldom as I’d thought?
Best regards
Jan.
PS: Please don’t be so strict with my English, I’m still learning how to find the right words.